Saturday, 16 May 2009

Timeline 2: The Mandalorian Blockade is Broken

More Lance Henriksen as the second installment of the Star Wars: The Old Republic is released. Going back in time seven years from the previous entry the Jedi Master Gnost-Dural recount how the Mandelorian Blockade was broken.

As part of his accounting of recent events in the galaxy’s timeline, Master Gnost-Dural, Keeper of the Jedi Archives, has entered a new holorecord on the subject of the Mandalorian Blockade.

BTC 7 - A Mandalorian blockade is positioned along the Republic’s primary trade route resulting in famine and unrest amongst the colonies. A daring smuggler known as Hylo Visz attempts the unthinkable, to take down the intimidating fleet of Mandalorian ships and deliver the much needed goods to the people of Coruscant.

And here's the full text of this timeline, though honestly I prefer to hear Mr. Henriksen say it, not in the least because the text is in all-caps. Anyway...

AFTER THE SACKING OF CORUSCANT, THE JEDI COUNCIL AGREED THAT THE REPUBLIC HAD BEEN UNDONE BY THE BOLD CUNNING OF THE EMPIRE’S STRATEGY.

A CLOSER LOOK, HOWEVER, SUGGESTS THE SACKING OF CORUSCANT WAS NOT THE CROWNING MOMENT OF THE EMPIRE'S CAMPAIGN, BUT RATHER A RISKY MANEUVER UNDERTAKEN AFTER ALL OTHER EFFORTS HAD FAILED.

THE SITH ONLY CONSIDERED TURNING TO SUCH MEASURES AFTER THEIR EFFORTS WERE UNDERMINED BY AN UNLIKELY REPUBLIC ALLY — THE CRIMINAL SMUGGLING CONTINGENT THAT BROKE THE MANDALORIAN BLOCKADE.

THE BLOCKADE CHOKED THE PRIMARY TRADE ROUTE FOR PROVIDING REPUBLIC MILITARY SUPPORT TO THE OUTER RIM… AND THE MAIN HYPERLANE FOR BRINGING RAW GOODS FROM THE COLONIES TO THE CORE WORLDS.

LONG-STANDING HOLDOUTS IN THE OUTER RIM BEGAN FOLDING TO THE EMPIRE, AND CRITICAL SUPPLIES VANISHED FROM THE CORE WORLDS ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

AS STARVATION SWEPT THROUGH THE LOWER LEVELS OF CORUSCANT, RIOTS BROKE OUT PLANETWIDE. TALK IN THE SENATE VEERED SHARPLY TOWARD A COMPLETE SURRENDER TO THE SITH EMPIRE.

IT WAS AT THIS CRITICAL HOUR THAT A MIRIALAN SMUGGLER NAMED HYLO VISZ RECOGNIZED AN EXTRAORDINARY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR HER AND HER PARTNERS.

WITH THE REPUBLIC WILLING TO PAY ANY PRICE FOR RAW GOODS, HYLO’S PLAN WAS SIMPLE — BREAK THE MANDALORIAN BLOCKADE.

LOADING MASSIVE FREIGHTERS WITH ALL THE GOODS THE OUTER RIM HAD TO OFFER, HYLO AND HER FELLOW SMUGGLERS HAULED THEIR LOADS TO WITHIN A PARSEC OF THE BLOCKADE AND STOPPED STILL.

DISTRACTED BY SUSPICIOUS FREIGHTERS, THE MANDALORIANS NEVER KNEW WHAT HIT THEM — A MOTLEY FLEET OF SMALL STARSHIPS DROPPED OUT OF HYPERSPACE AND OPENED FIRE.

A MASSIVE SPACE BATTLE ENSUED. THE SMUGGLERS’ LIGHT FIGHTERS RAN RINGS AROUND THE MANDALORIAN CRUISERS — BUT EVEN SO, HYLO VISZ AND HER BAND WERE OUTMATCHED.

FORTUNATELY, REPUBLIC STRATEGIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS WAS TIPPED OFF AND STARFIGHTERS WERE SCRAMBLED FROM NEARBY SYSTEMS. WITH THEIR ASSISTANCE, THE MANDALORIANS WERE QUICKLY OVERCOME.

THE BLOCKADE BROKEN, HYLO VISZ BROUGHT FREIGHTERS FULL OF RAW GOODS INTO CORUSCANT AND WALKED AWAY WITH MORE WEALTH THAN SHE HAD EVER IMAGINED.

AN ELABORATE MEDAL CEREMONY WAS HELD IN HER HONOR, BUT HYLO NEVER SHOWED — SHE WAS LONG GONE.

RUMOR HAS IT HYLO VISZ WAS KILLED A YEAR LATER FOR DOUBLE-CROSSING THE HUTTS.

REGARDLESS, THROUGH THIS UNLIKELY HERO’S EFFORTS, THE REPUBLIC WAR EFFORT GAINED A REPRIEVE.

AT THE TIME, MANY BELIEVED THE EMPIRE WAS BEHIND THE MANDALORIAN BLOCKADE. MY RESEARCH INDICATES A FAR MORE ELABORATE EXPLANATION.

I WILL SHARE THAT IN MY NEXT REPORT.

So while in this report we had how the blockade was broken, the next one will recount how it came to be in the first place. Can't wait.

In the meantime this seems even more clear indication that Smuggler will be another player class, so clearly painting one in the role of a hero. And a bit of mystery that wouldn't surprise me if we ran into that again. Knowing smugglers one should better not believe all that you hear and see.

They're also explaining how the outer rim planets would fall under the Empire, giving an explanation that would work for a number of planets one might normally associate with the Republic.